Countdown to Christmas

DIG out the tinsel and un-tangle the fairy lights — the countdown to Christmas in Oldham has begun.

Last year, crowds got into the Christmas spirit by packing into the town centre and giving Santa and his reindeer parade a warm welcome.

Youngsters were thrilled by a visit from TV star Sportacus — the superhero from television’s “Lazytown” — as well as the cast of the Oldham Coliseum’s pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” and other Christmas characters.

As the borough gears up for this year’s festive season, the identity of a celebrity children’s character who will join the Mayor, Councillor Richard Knowles, to turn on the town centre Christmas lights, is still under wraps.

Celebrations kick-off when Santa’s sleigh is drawn into town by a team of reindeer on Saturday, November 12, and the lights switch-on, on Sunday, November 20, will be followed by a fireworks display.

The council’s 12 town-centre car parks and the main shopping centre car parks are offering a variety of free deals in the run-up to the festive programme.